Competence in caring for patients with respiratory insufficiency: A cross-sectional study.

Objectives: To compare nurses' self-assessed competence and perceived need for more training in intensive care units treating patients with respiratory insufficiency before and after completion of a seven-hour educational programme, and to assess whether factors such as age, educational level, years of experience and percentage of employment are associated with these outcomes.

Research Methodology: The study had a quantitative, cross-sectional, descriptive design, with two measurement times. The ProffNurse SAS questionnaire was used to assess nurses' self-assessed competence and perceived need for more training.

Setting: Nurses in one medical/surgical intensive care unit and one medical intensive care unit in a hospital in Norway.

Main Outcome Measures: Nurses' self-assessed competence and perceived need for more training.

Results: The pre- and post-education studies comprised responses from 85 (52%) and 52 (32%) nurses, respectively. The educational programme contributed to increased self-assessed competence in seven items. Self-assessed competence was significantly associated with nurses' educational level, and critical care nurses reported higher self-assessed competence than registered nurses on 50% of the items.

Conclusion: The findings fill a gap in knowledge about nurses' competence in treating patients with respiratory insufficiency in intensive care units. Both education days and further education have beneficial effects on self-assessed competence.